In Holly and Hopeful Hearts, Caroline’s hero attends house party hosted by Her Grace, the Duchess of Haverford. He’s grateful for Aldridge’s support more than once!
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Seated far from Esther, he had no opportunity to talk to her, not that dinner would have allowed him to press his case. When the ladies left them to their port—miserable custom that it was—he had no polite way to pursue her.
Grenford’s older brother, the Marquis of Aldridge, as ranking male family member, presided over the distribution of cigars, which Adam declined, and port, which he gladly accepted. Aldridge urged the gentlemen to move toward the head of the table for ease of conversation. Talk drifted over horses, hunts, and mills that held no interest for Adam. When the talk turned to politics and the conduct of the war, however, the marquis leaned forward.
“But you were there recently, Halevy, were you not?” Aldridge asked, taking him off guard.
The mission had not been widely known, but neither was its secrecy vital. Still, he couldn’t imagine how Aldridge knew. His surprise must have shown.
“A mission for the War Department, was it not? I had drinks with Glenaire earlier this month, and he mentioned that he had dispatched you with Rochlin. Of course, he kept the details obscure enough.”
“Tight as a clam, is Glenaire. You’ll get naught from the man,” someone complained jovially. “What was it? Ferrying Wellington’s private bootblack to the old man?”
Aldridge exchanged a knowing look with Adam.
“Something like that,” Adam said. “The marquess was kind enough to send his private yacht to bring us home.”
“You were in Spain!” Lord Jonathon Grenford exclaimed. “Tell us everything: the roads, the dangers—the women.”
“The drink?” Adam retorted. “You can’t fault the French for their wine.”
“You went through France?”
“An advantage of being a native speaker,” Adam told him. A few stories about bad inns and good food seemed to satisfy, and the conversation moved on.
